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The most beloved person to the Prophet [sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam]

Bismillah. This is from my notes. More narrations can be added with more points Insha Allah.

Both Bukhari (3662) and Muslim (2384) narrate from ‘Amr bin al-‘Aas (ra) that he asked the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), “Who is most beloved to you?” He replied, “’Aishah.” He then asked, “And among men?” He said, “Her father.”

Ibn Majah (101) and Al-Hakim (6739) records through Mu’tamir bin Sulaiman from Humaid at-Taweel from Anas bin Malik that it was said: O Messenger of Allah, who is the most beloved person to you? He said, “’Aisha.” They said, “Not from the women.” So he said, “Her father.” Al-Hakim declared it Sahih on the condition of Bukhari and Muslim. Al-Dhahabi said, “It is highly weird.” Imam Ad-Daarqutni said after mentioning the differences in its Isnad in his “Al-‘Ilal” (12/76): The correct Isnad for this is that through Mu’tamir bin Sulaiman from Humaid from Hasan al-Basari in mursal form.

Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi in his Musnad (1613) and Al-Hakim in “Al-Mustadrak” (6746) report through through Zam’ah from Ibn Abi Mulaikah that Umm Salamah (ra) said, when she was informed about the death of ‘Aisha (ra), “May Allah shower His mercy on her. By the One in whose hand is my life, she was the most beloved of all to the Messenger of Allah, except for her father.” Al-Hakim authenticated it on the condition of the two Shaykhs to which Al-Dhahabi objected by saying, “In it exists Zam’ah and only Muslim have narrated through him along with other reports [that is in support on only].”

Tirmidhi (3819), Hakim and Tahawi in Sharh al-Mushkil (5298) relate it through ‘Umar bin Abi Salamah from his father from Usamah bin Zaid (ra) that Ali (ra) and ‘Abbas (ra) entered upon Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and asked, “O Messenger of Allah! We have come to you to ask who is the most beloved to you from your household.” He replied, “Fatimah.” They asked, “We are not asking about women.” So he said, “That is the one on whom Allah bestowed His favor and I bestowed my favor on him: Usamah bin Zaid.” It was weakened by Al-Albani due to Umar bin Abi Salamah. In a report of Tahawi (5399) he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) mentioned Ali (ra) after Usamah (ra).

The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said when some people objected to the leadership of Usamah (ra), “He (Zaid) was from the most beloved people to me and this is from the most beloved people to me after him.” It was reported by Ahmad (5888), Bukhari (6252), Muslim (2426), Tirmidhi (3816) and others.

Imam Ahmad reports in Musnad (5707), At-Tayalisi in his Musnad (1812) through Hammad from Musa bin ‘Uqbah from Salim from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Usama is the most beloved person to me” and he did not give exception for Fatima or any other person than her.”
The part of the hadith ((and he did not give exception to Fatimah)) is the statement of Ibn ‘Umar (ra) as in the report of Ahmad (5848), Nasai in “Al-Kubra” (8130), Ibn Sa’d in Tabaqat (2/192, al-‘Ilmiyyah).
Imam Bukhari also narrates it in his Saheeh (4468), At-Tabarani in “Al-Kabeer” (1/159), Al-Hakim in “Al-Mustadrak” (6530) through different routes going back to Musa bin ‘Uqbah without mentioning the statement of Ibn ‘Umar (ra).

Ahmad (25829), Tirmidhi (3657), Nasai in Al-Kubra (8144) and others through Abdullah bin Shaqeeq that he asked ‘Aisha (ra) that which companion of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was most beloved to him? She replied, Abu Bakr. I said, “Then who?” She said, “Umar.” I said, “Then whom?” She said Abu ‘Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah. Then she kept silence. Tirmidhi said: It is Hasan Saheeh. Al-Albani and Arnaut have declared it authentic.

Tirmidhi (3874), An-Nasai in “Al-Kubra” (8442, 8443), Al-Hakim in “Al-Mustadrak” (4731, 4774), At-Tahawi (5307, 5308) and others through Jumai’ bin ‘Umair that he along with his mother [or father] went to ‘Aisha (ra) and there he heard her saying regarding ‘Ali (ra), “I have not seen a man more beloved to the Messenger of Allah than him, and a woman more beloved to him than his wife.” Al-Hakim declared it authentic on the condition of Al-Bukhari and Muslim to which Al-Dhahabi objected, “Rather Jumai’ bin ‘Umair is accused and ‘Aisha basically never uttered it.”

Imam Ahmad reports in Musnad (18421), Nasai in “Al-Kubra” (8441, 9110), At-Tahawi in Sharh Muskhil al-Aathar” (5309) through Yunus from Yunus bin Abi Ishaq from Al-‘Aizar bin Huraith from Nu’man bin Basheer that Abu Bakr took permission from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and so he heard the voice of ‘Aisha being raised, and she was saying, “By Allah, I have realized that Ali is more beloved to you than my father.” She said it twice or thrice.
I say: Israeel reports it from Abu Ishaq from ‘Aizar without having the statement of ‘Aisha as per the report of Ahmad (18394).

Tirmidhi reports in Sunan (3868) through Abdullah bin ‘Ataa from Abdullah bin Buraidah from his father that he said, “The most beloved person to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was Fatimah among women, and among men it was Ali.” Ibrahim bin Sa’eed [the Shaykh ofTirmidhi in this narration] added: It means among his family members.
It was also reported by An-Nasai in “Al-Kubra” (8444) and he said after it, “Abdullah bin ‘Ataa was not strong in hadith.” Abu Abdullah Al-Hakim also reports it in “Al-Mustadrak” (4735) and declared it Sahih while Al-Dhahabi agreed.

Al-Hakim (5110) through Abu Usamah from Hisham bin ‘Urwah from ‘Urwah that he said, “Abu Sufyan bin Harith bin Abdul Muttalib was the most beloved of Quraish to the Messenger of Allah and he was very harsh against him, and when he accepted Islam he became the most beloved person to him.”